GILROY
– Here is your chance to explore Old St. Mary cemetery with
members of the Gilroy Historical Society.
Once a year, around Halloween, the Society hosts a walk around the cemetery. It is one of the series of walking tours available for Gilroy history buffs that are held monthly.
During the one-hour tour, visitors can find the graves of Gilroy’s historic names and hear the stories behind the settlers of South Valley.
Headstones range from very simple, like that of Gilroy’s founder, John Gilroy, or to very fancy, like Catherine O’Toole Murphy Dunne’s.
“Her grave is one of the more elaborate,” said Connie Rogers of the Gilroy Historical Society.
Come find out the history of one part of the cemetery known as the “Irish Corner,” so named for the many Irish settlers who came to California long ago looking for freedom from persecution because of their beliefs.
“I think they liked the idea of coming here because there were Catholic churches,” Rogers said.
A visit to historic cemeteries are much more than just looking at headstones, it is a visit to the past of the area and the stories behind Gilroy’s settlers.
Those interested in the tour should meet at 10 a.m. Saturday in front of the Serra Cottage, 7950 Church St.
For more information, call Connie Rogers, 842-8494 at 842-8494.
